A Call for Spiritual Toughness

This past week, a friend of mine completed his boot camp experience for the Marine Corp in the San Diego. A week before that, his mother contacted a number of us, who have known this young man most of his life, requesting that we be in prayer for his final exam– a grueling 54 hour experience known as the Crucible, where the recruits are allowed just 3 meals, less than 5 hours of sleep, and must perform a number of activities successfully as a team, in order to complete the program and graduate. My friend Abe, and countless others I know weren’t drafted, they were not pressured into this 12 weeks of personal, spiritual, and physical challenge, but as far as I can tell, at least by the smile of Abe’s face, He is encouraged by his sense of accomplishment and what it means for him going forward.

What drew him to this challenge? Well, I’m sure the answer has many factors, but it seems apparent that our lives are improved most by the challenges that seem the hardest. And that is no more true than in our Christian life. The problem is, in our overreach of understanding grace, we have eliminated the burden to pursue a passionate and pure relationship with Jesus. And that’s why I believe so much in ministry that involves study, hard work, and personal sacrifice. Because these factors and others, build Spiritual toughnessinto the lives of believers, that frankly, we need, and just can’t get any other way. So, whether its backpacking, reading, or committing to a prayer journal, Paul’s comments to Timothy in I Timothy 4:7,were timely and hold practical value for us in our “cushy,” culture of ease. Get off the couch (literal or otherwise), and get into the “gym”, which is the training ground for our spiritual life today and… our life eternal.

Adult Bible School Class

Offering update…WE REACHED OUR GOAL!

Thanks, I needed that!

Over the years, I have been intrigued with commercials that have become part of the American landscape. One very popular “spot” years ago involved Mennen, “Skin-Bracer” after-shave, with the actor of the commercial facing some difficult task. In one case, the scene is a boxing match. After a difficult round the boxer returns to his corner, looking like he may not be able to show up for the next round. With all else failing, the corner man pulls out his “Skin Bracer” and gives the boxer, a cold slap in the face. The reply is instantaneous, ” Thanks, I needed that.” 

All of this makes me wonder. How many times, has God given me just what I need, just when I needed it? How many circumstances have I faced where either the temptation was too great, my discouragement too strong, or my assets too small, but God showed up in the form of another person, His providence, or a miraculous set of actions that brought His blessings into my life? And then there have been those times, as with my friend, Raymo, when even in the midst of great disappointment and despair, God wrapped his arms of comfort around him and shows Himself strong.  

I talked with a man last week, who thanked me for something I had done for him, and after I responded that it was my pleasure to help, he said, simply, “No, We needed that…” 

Adult Bible School Class

A Whack on the Side of the Head

What I need the most from life

As I write this week’s edition of BTE, my wife is at the wheel while we inch closer to Kansas City and then on to Manhattan, Kansas. We spent last evening with life-long friends of Debbie and me– believers we trust and love, and never seem to see enough of over the years.

We hope to spend the the next few days with Deb’s family and another dear friend (Raymo) who just lost his wife. Each of these people are important to us, each have faced difficult circumstances over the years and all of them know Christ personally. They have a relationship with the living God– and we all need that. When a relationship with Jesus is active and thriving, the world may bruise us, but nothing can destroy us.

Which brings me to Genesis 3:1, and this week’s sermon topic. It’s almost unimaginable to consider just how much Adam and Eve had going for them- life in a perfect world,  a wonderful life with each other, and most importantly, the relationship they shared with God, vicariously enjoyed through the person of Jesus Christ.

We would do well to consider daily, just how much we have to lose when we willingly and willfully sin against God. Satan is real, we should view him as a threat to our relationship with Christ, and finally, we should confront our temptations honestly, counting the cost beforehand by saying as Joseph said in Genesis 39:9, “How then can I do this great evil and sin against God?”

God’s family is the relationship we need the most! MJC

I know it’s Spring, because…

I just discovered to my surprise, that Spring has arrived and the celebration of Easter cannot be far behind…

But wait, how did I miss the signs that were all around me?

As valuable as these perennial wake-up calls are for you (or not), what remains the constant for the Christian’s calendar is the eternal power of the resurrection to declare the real history and hope of Jesus Christ, living and loving the ones He died to save. So again, this year, we roll back the stone and peer longingly into the tomb that changed our lives forever.  

The Last Word…”What say we” about Jesus Christ? Shall the resurrection become that “little pebble” of irritation in our shoe, complicating an otherwise busy season, or the Rock of  our Salvation, to which we are drawn to every Spring. 

No harm, no foul?

A subtle little lie has invaded our spiritual ranks, and I fear that organized sports is to blame. Now, before you land on me with both feet, I enjoy sports myself, and believe that sports and athletic competition can contribute much to our well being. In fact, the Apostle Paul draws heavily upon his knowledge of sports as he describes both the motivation and effort to run the spiritual race and to box, as, He says, “not as one who beats the air.”  Running the race, should be done, he says to win the prize. In his mind, I am quite sure, was the anticipation of our future life with Christ and the goal of leaving a spiritual legacy for the culture to follow. 

No, I’m speaking of the little phrase, I hear all the time, “no harm, no foul.” In the pickup game, it is translated, ” If you can walk away upright, no real damage has occurred.”  Where this goes awry is in our lives. If no noticeable damage is visible currently, my behavior is, in the final analysis, acceptable.  I mean, come on Mark, you may say, what real damage is done in that extramarital affair, or that pornography, or that crude remark?” The real problem here I believe, lies in the “foulness” we have become to our God.

We see not the Author and Finisher of our faith as holy- we see no need to set our sights on the highest of virtues, and we refuse, quietly or otherwise, to pursue the God who bought us, with vigor and an unquenchable holy desire. Maybe that’s why a piece from Wm Law seems to strike the right chord for the NCAA tournament, and the tournament called life, that we all participate in… Law writes,

So that the fault lies not here, that we desire to be good and perfect, but through the weakness of our nature, fall short of it; but it is because we have no piety (Holy desire, My term), enough to intend to beas good as we can, or to please God in all the actions of our life.” 

I rest my case with a axiom that has always served me well.  ” We will always do the things that are most important to us- always! MJC

A vote for you in the only election that matters

Today I voted in the primary for the candidate that I believe best represents a position consistent with my principles for self government and with my understanding of the Scriptures. Now, who I selected is really irrelevant to my comments here but the process of choice fascinates me. Some 156 years ago, Abraham Lincoln debated policy and sought the support of an electorate that was being divided as the Civil war loomed certain. And yet, in 1860, the chief concern- of nearly everyone in the North, was- preserve the Union. How far we’ve come when our consuming interest in politics is not the good of the union and the protection of the higher good, but our right to be angry and “throw out the bums” who got us here…Bravado, not bravery, intensity, not integrity are the new buzz words for change.

But, here’s a thought, rather than choosing, Trump, Cruz, Rubio, Clinton, Bernie or Kasich, we should choose, prayer, we should choose confession of our personal and national sins, choose a study of the Scriptures, choose joy, choose holiness, and choose worship as a platform for change. 

Because, after all, if you are a believer, God chose you, and at the cost of His Sinless Son, adopted you, redeemed you, regenerated you, and reconciled you to Himself. 

And that’s what we’ll celebrate this Sunday as the lid comes off our baptistry and we re-enact that great new habit which got its start on that Acts 2 day–“So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41)

And that’s how God can really “Preserve the Union.” MJC

What we learned in Junior High? Middle school?

I’ve been wondering– Does God have anything to say about my work, the nature of my rest, and my “track record” for prioritizing worship?

I’ve been wondering- Am I really burdened for people?